There’s little doubt that Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna’s decision to join the lawsuit challenging health insurance reform was purely political; like the other Republican AGs in the suit, McKenna was apparently pandering to the hard-right teabagger faction on which the GOP has recently pinned its electoral hopes.
But TPM takes a look at how this strategy has thus far worked out for AGs facing electoral challenges in 2010, and apparently, not so well:
Take a look at Tuesday’s primary in South Carolina, where Attorney General Henry McMaster boasted in his gubernatorial campaign that he was protecting “South Carolina’s sovereignty, “standing tall for states’ rights,” and opposing Obama on health care. McMaster came in third place with 17%, failing to make the GOP runoff.
And in Florida, state Attorney General Bill McCollum joined the lawsuits at a time when he was the presumptive Republican nominee for governor at time he joined the lawsuits. But no longer. He is now trailing in a new poll against self-financing former health care executive Rick Scott — who is touting his own opposition to the health care bill, and the activism he spearheaded during the debates.
In Michigan, state Attorney General Mike Cox is running for governor in a five-way Republican primary. And he has not broken out of the pack. The TPM Poll Average currently has him running in third place with 17.6%, behind Rep. Pete Hoekstra at 24.4% and businessman Rick Snyder with 18.5%.
And last but not least, look at Alabama Attorney General Troy King, who joined the lawsuits — he already lost his primary to Luther Strange, an attorney and the 2006 GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, by a margin of 60%-40%.
Not all the AGs in the case have found themselves on the losing side of the ballot. Pennsylvania AG Tom Corbett easily won his Republican primary for governor, but he was already the frontrunner before the lawsuit. And a bunch of other AGs remain unopposed in primaries for their reelection. But as we see above, those AGs in closely contested races haven’t found the health reform lawsuit to be the electoral bonanza they thought it would be.
Of course McKenna’s strategy may already have achieved its main objective; by striking first for the teabagger vote, he may have forced Dino Rossi out of the 2012 gubernatorial race and into an ill-advised run for the U.S. Senate. But so far there is little evidence to suggest that McKenna’s stunt will produce further electoral payoffs two years down the road, especially as the benefits of reform begin to kick in, and voters become loath to give them up.
In two year’s time, the results of the lawsuit will be more clear. That doesn’t mean it is final at that point: any loser in the lower courts is likely to be appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court at that time. But if the challenge to the Health Care Reform Act is dismissed at both the district and court of appeals levels, the costs of the appeals are going to be accumulating, and Wash. State Taxpayers will be asking why our Atty General is spending his time, and probably at least some of our taxpayer money, in tilting at windmills.
Goldy–
How much time do you spend daily **speculating**? Seems like you waste a good majority of your time with wild anti-Republican theories you snag from DailyKos, Huffpo and other far-left lunatic organizations and then add your personal fantasy touch. Is this supposed to get your Progressive base fired up?? What is the purpose?
The Democrats are in huge trouble this November and in 2012. Here is another example–Maine
Friday, June 11, 2010
Boxer is ahead by 5 points in California so you can relax on that one…today.
Suggestion–
Record the amount of time you spend daily on meaningless bullshit like this.
Then take those hours and multiply them by $40/hr….and get a real job. Become a taxpayer for God’s sake! Instead of a freeloader who takes advantage of hard-wroking REAL Americans.
Harry “Skeletor” Reid pushed Health Care and is down 11 points to Angle.
64% of Americans would like all of Congress replaced.
In the other big Nevada Race for Governor, the Republican is up 23 points!
That ought to help Harry, huh?
Friday, June 11, 2010
# 3;
The surveys I heard this morning didn’t say that Harry Reid was down eleven points to Angle. They said that he’s even, and currently has some momentum on his side. I can’t tell you which surveys, I don’t write down notes from the news stories while I’m driving.
In the meantime, Angle’s suddenly scrubbed her web sight to remove all of the really wierd policy positions she’s taken in the past. As of this morning it contained nothing but a way to take donations. I’m assuming that the Republicans are having their consultants re-design her website, and it may already have more content available.
But I’m sure somebody in Harry Reid’s campaign has already saved a cache of her former website content.
Angle’s going to have a hard time explaining to Las Vegas, Reno, and even Henderson voters how prohibition is going to help them onto the road of financial recovery.
And is the national Tea Party activists going to help fund her when they realize she advocates having a Scientology counseling program in prisons?
I’m betting that the more they find out about Angle, the more they are going to dislike her.
@4 Don’t mind Cynical. He’s doing his daily Rasmussen Dance.
4. rhp6033 spews:
The Survey was done by Harry Reid’s family!
rhp–Here is why Harry is doomed.
How will Harry overcome this?
laughing my tush off; “the benfits of the health care socialization” will begin to be seen..
goldy, you are insane; maybe you and i can talk while standing in line for an MRI or other rationed benefit.
@8 “maybe you and i can talk while standing in line for an MRI or other rationed benefit”
Goldy will know you by the chickens you’ve brought for bartering.